Vapor electric device.



F. W. LYLE.

VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 19, 1910.

1,079,250. Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

llNlTED sratrns grsur ora ion.)

FRED W. LYLE, OF SAUGUS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRICCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICE.

1 ,OTELZM).

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 191 3.

Application filed June 18. 1910. Serial No. 567,546.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED W. LYLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Saugus, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements inVapor Electric Devices,of which the following is a specification.

The main objects of the present invention are to provide a vaporelectric apparatus having great stability when in operation; to providea vapor device adapted to transmit energy at high voltage even when thecurrent is of a pulsating character; to provide means for governing themotion of the cathode spot; to provide a structure allowing slightmovements of the cathode spot, but limiting the movement; to provide forthe return of condensed mercury to the cathode without disturbing theaction of the are.

A specific embodiment of this invention is disclosed in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1. illustrates a vapor tube connected to asystem which is adapted to produce periodic currents of high frequency;Fig.

2 is a detail showing, in section, the means for limiting the movementof the cathode spot; Fig. 3 illustrates a modified construction.

In the construction shown, the vapor device comprises an evacuated glassenvelop having a constricted tubular portion 1. This constricted ortion,in'the embodiment here illustrated, has a length of about eight or teninches, and an internal diameter of about one-eighth ofan inch. At itsupper end, it communicates with a large anode chamber 2, in which ahollow graphite anode 3 is mounted. The lower end of tube 1 opens into alarge cathode chamber 4, shown in detail in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 2, a vaporizable cathode 5 is in contact with the outer glasswalls of the cathode chamber. The cathode may be of mercury or othersuitable vaporizable material. Projecting above the surface of thevaporizahle cathode is a conductor 6, preferably of 00 per or othermetal wet by the mercury. his conductor may be in the form of a rod, andmay be anchored below the surface of the cathode by connection to thelead wire, as shown'in Fig. 2. A cap 8, of silica, or magnesia, or thelike, envelops the copper rod 6 and flares outward therefrom. This caphas at its lower end a tubular portion 9, which dips below the surfaceof the cathode and forms a small on nular channel about the copperrod 6.The cap has a flaring or conical portion 10, which is provided at itsouter edge with a downwardly projecting lip 11. The lip dips into anannular trough 19., and the trough holds a small quantity of mercuryadapted to serve as a seal around the outer edge of the cap. Althoughthe cap 8 rests on the edge of the annular trough 12, its contact is soimperfect or loose that when the mercury which condenses on the walls ofthe envelop and collects in the annular trough, fills that trough tooverflowing, it can seep through between the; upper edge of the troughand the under, surface of the cap, and so can replenish theicathodewithout disturbing the cathode spot or interfering in any way with thenormal action of the arc.

In Fig. 2, the annular trough 12 consists of glass, and is made integralwith the glass wall of the bulb and high enough above the cathode toinsulate the mercury or other liquid in the trough from the vaporizablematerial of the cathode.

In Fig. 3, a refractory cap 13 forms an annular channel about thecentral copper rod 14, and has at. its outer edge a depending lip 15,dipping in an annulan trough to form a seal, but in this modification,the annular trough extends down almost to the base of the tube, and themercury body 16 contained therein is in contact with the outer wall 17of the bulb and with an inner glass cone 18. This cone serves to holdthe oathode l5), and to insulate the cathode from the surroundingmercurylfi. The cathode lead wire 20 is insulated from the mercury 16,but is electrically connected with the cathode 19.

\Vhen a vapor electric device of either of the types just described isconnected to a circuit such as is shown in Fig. 1, its operation is asfollows: By closing and then opening a switch 21, which is connectedacross a battery 22, and a. rcactance coil 23, an inductive kick may beproduced between the auxiliary anode 24 and the mercury cathode 5 of thetube. This will serve to initiate a small side branch are between theauxiliary anode 24 and the cathode, and this are may be continuouslymaintained by current from dipping in said cathode and forming anannular channel about said rod, said cap having a flaring portion with adepending lip, an annular trough, and a body of vaporizable material insaid trough forming a seal for said depending lip, said material beinginsulated from said vaporizable cathode.

7. In a vapor electric device having an envelop and an anode, thecombination of a mercury cathode, a copper rod projecting above thesurface of said cathode, a cap covering said cathode except in theneighborhood of said copper rod, and means for holding mercury incontact with the outer edge of said cap to form a seal.

8. In a vapor electric device having an envelop and an anode, thecombination of a mercury cathode, a rod projecting above the surface ofsaid cathode, a refractory cap loosely inclosing said rod, said caphaving a depending lip, and an annular trough containing mercury inwhich said lip clips.

9. In a mercury vapor device having an envelop and an anode, thecombination of a mercury cathode, a refractory cap covering the greaterpart of the cathode surface but leaving free a portion exposed to saidanode and means for returning condensed mercury to said cathode at aregion not exposed to said anode.

10. In a vapor electric device having an evacuated envelop, thecombination of an anode, a vaporizable cathode, a funnel shapedrefractory cap having its inner edge in contact with the cathode, theouter edge of said cap having a depending portion, an'

annular trough in which the de ending portion loosely fits and a body ofliquid in said trough forming a seal for the upper ed e of said cap,said liquid being insulated rom the cathode.

11. In a vapor electric device, the combination of an anode, a mercurycathode, an annular trough surrounding said cathode a body of mercury insaid trough insulated from the cathode, a funnel shaped cap consistingof refractory insulating material covering the greater part of saidcathode surface, the lower edge of said cap dipping into said cathodeand having its depending upper edge dipping into the mercury in theannular trough.

12. In a vapor electric device having an anode and a vaporizablecathode, an annular trough adapted to contain fluid mate rial insulatedfrom said cathode, and a refractory shield covering the greater part ofthe cathode surface and having its edge projecting into said trough sothat a seal is formed upon the introduction of fluid material into thetrough.

13. In a vapor electric device, comprising an envelop, a mercury cathodeand anode, the combination of a refractory cap for said cathode exposingonly a small part of the cathode surface and having a depending lip anda supportin member for said cap constituting with said envelop a troughfor con taining mercury which will seal the edge of said cap.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day ofJune, 1910.

FRED W. LYLE.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. MoMANUs, Jr., FRANK G. HAT'IIE.

